Nanoscience of organic semiconductors for energy applications

利用材料实现低碳未来是一项多方面的重大挑战。有机半导体不断揭示令人兴奋的新物理和化学，以提高能源应用的光学和电子特性，从太阳能和轻型电子到高效照明。这些材料的一个关键知识缺口是了解有机分子晶体和聚合物半导体原子结构中的无序和缺陷如何限制它们吸收或发射光以及在设备中移动能量的能力。该项目将使用尖端的扫描透射电子显微镜、电子束光谱学和衍射工具来探测有机和混合半导体的组成和键合、分子堆积和光学跃迁之间的联系。这些结果将定义有机光电器件（有机发光二极管、薄膜晶体管和光伏）缺陷和界面工程的机会，并开始解锁用于能量转换和照明技术的有机半导体。

Harnessing materials for a low-carbon future is a multifaceted grand challenge. Organic semiconductors continue to reveal exciting new physics and chemistry for boosting optical and electronic properties for energy applications from solar energy and lightweight electronics to high-efficiency lighting. A critical knowledge gap for these materials is understanding how disorder and defects in the atomic structure of organic molecular crystals and polymer semiconductors limits their ability to absorb or emit light and to move energy around in a device. This project will use cutting edge scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron beam spectroscopy and diffraction tools to probe the links between composition and bonding, molecular packing, and optical transitions in organic and hybrid semiconductors. These results will define opportunities for defect and interface engineering in organic optoelectronic devices (organic light emitting diodes, thin film transistors, and photovoltaics) and begin to unlock organic semiconductors for energy conversion and lighting technologies.